Confused about packaging

Leoturi
Leoturi Posts: 49 Member
edited November 17 in Food and Nutrition
So I'm making some Rice side from Knorr and it has both unprepared and prepared as far as nutritional values, and has different serving sizes. If it is 1/2 cup unprepared, does that mean 1 cup is with it prepared? If so, why is it labeled with both? Not sure who would eat this right out of the packet. It is kind of confusing and I want to make sure I don't mess up my calorie count for the day.

Replies

  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    Do you add anything to it (such as milk or butter) in the preparation? That will change the calorie count.
  • mitch4_
    mitch4_ Posts: 3 Member
    Just track what the box says unprepared of how much you used (dry). Then track anything else you added to make the rice (milk, butter, oil, etc.)

    Ignore the prepared nutrition facts.

    It's like cereal, they often display two nutrition facts panels, one with just the dry cereal and the other with like 1/2 c. Skim milk. I always weigh my cereal dry and add and track the milk separately.

    Hope this helps!
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    Leoturi wrote: »
    So I'm making some Rice side from Knorr and it has both unprepared and prepared as far as nutritional values, and has different serving sizes. If it is 1/2 cup unprepared, does that mean 1 cup is with it prepared? If so, why is it labeled with both? Not sure who would eat this right out of the packet. It is kind of confusing and I want to make sure I don't mess up my calorie count for the day.

    If you prepare it exactly as the recipe on the box tells you, you can use that. If not (and I never do), you need to use the unprepared nutrition information and log what you add separately. It is also helpful to ignore the serving size but divide it up yourself into how ever many servings are listed on the label. if you add more liquid than the recipe calls for, each serving will be larger because of the additional moisture absorbed.

    It is actually handy to have both because many of these pre-packaged things are used as ingredients in other recipes. Cake mixes are a good example. Cakes are so easy to make from scratch that I only buy a mix if I am making something other than a cake.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    If you're adding anything than water I use the recipe builder. Add in the information for the unprepared version - then add in any other ingredients required to make the finished product. If you have a food scale - weigh the final product - make 1 gram your serving size and then the number of servings is however many grams you have. Weigh your portion and don't worry about the cup size. Log it and enjoy! If you don't have a food scale just do your best with the number of servings from the package directions.
  • Leoturi
    Leoturi Posts: 49 Member
    That actually makes a lot of sense. I didn't even think about it that way. I measure both for cereal too. Not sure why I didn't think of that myself hehe. Thanks for the advice everyone.
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